Mao Zedong
Former Chairman of the Communist Party of China
Basic Information
He was born in December 26, 1893, in Shaoshan, China. He was born a peasant. He died on September 09, 1976, in Beijing, China. The cause of his death was from Parkinson's disease and other health issues. He died at the age of 82.
Marxist and the KMT
Once Mao moved to Beijing he started working at the University Library. He then started reading about the Marxist literature. In 1921 he became the founder of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). Mao set up a branch in Hunan. The KMT nationalist party and the CCP created an alliance to defeat the warlords who controlled most of northern China in 1923. The KMT leader launched an anti-communist purge in 1927.
'Long March'
Other communist including Mao retreated to south east China. After the KMT surrounded them, Mao lead his people on the 'Long March.' The 'Long March' was a 6,000 mile journey to northwest China to establish a new base in 1934.
Ready for the journey
Listening to Mao
His People
His people listening to Mao before they left for the 'Long March'
Mao before leaving
Mao getting ready for the Journey
Victorious
The communists and KMT still have an alliance for eight years of fighting with Japan (1937-1945). Shortly after World War II, civil war broke out between the two. The communist was victorious. On October 1, 1949 proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The leader of KMT fled and went to the island of Taiwan.
State gets Ownership
Mao and other communist went out to reshape the Chinese society. The state got ownership of industries and China's farmers began to be organized into collectives. All of a sudden the Chinese received significant help from the Soviet Union. Soon everything started to cool down.
'Great Leap Forward'
In 1958 Mao launched the 'Great Leap Forward' to get more people introduced into the communist. He wanted more Chinese to be part of the communist. The results declined and caused harm. They soon had poor harvest and it lead them to have deaths of millions. The policy was abandoned and Mao's position weakened quickly.
Authority Back
Mao launched the 'Cultural Revolution' in 1966 to get his authority back. He was aiming to purge the country of its 'impure' elements and revive the revolutionary spirit. One-and-a-half million people died and most of the country's cultural heritage was destroyed. Mao sent in the army to restore order in September 1967, with many cites on the verge of anarchy.
Building Bridges
Mao was victorious, but his health wasn't the greatest. In his later years, he attempted to build bridges with the United States, Japan, and Europe.
What I learned and Grade
Mao helped China out a lot, but I read that he killed over 50 million people. I learned how he even began the whole CCP. Mao had to learn how to get along with everyone and so did everyone else. He went for a 6,000 mile trip just to start a new base. Mao wanted others to have some of the freedom that his people had. He was very victorious in his work. I think I deserve an A.
URL's
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/mao_zedong.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/mao-tse-tung-9398142http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/maos-great-leap-forward-killed-45-million-in-four-years-2081630.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/mao_zedong.shtml
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chairman-mao-dies